Cotton swab guard

ABSTRACT

A cotton swab with guard is disclosed. Example embodiments are directed to a cotton swab guard used to prevent or mitigate the effects of discharges when a cotton swab is used to apply a liquid to a hot surface or clean a hot surface. The example embodiments disclose a cotton swab guard comprising: a polygonal surface configured with a hole in the center of the polygonal surface, the diameter of the hole conforming to the diameter of a cotton swab shaft, the polygonal surface including a slit cut from a side of the polygonal surface to the center of the polygonal surface.

PRIORITY

This application claims the benefit of co-pending provisional application 62/810,824 filed Feb. 26, 2019 by the same inventor, which is incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.

COPYRIGHT

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. The following notice applies to the software and data as described below and in the drawings that form a part of this document: Copyright 2018-2019 Russell D. GIMINSKI, All Rights Reserved.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This patent application relates to apparatus for cotton swabs according to one embodiment, and more specifically to a cotton swab with guard portion.

BACKGROUND

Cotton swabs, such as Q-TIP brand swabs, are implements consisting of one or two small wad(s) of cotton wrapped around one or both end(s) of a short rod made of wood, rolled paper or plastic. They are commonly used in a variety of applications including first aid, cosmetics application, cleaning, and arts and crafts. Cotton swabs have also been used for small electronics soldering and for vaporizing concentrated botanical extracts using a hot surface. However, cotton swabs are often used to apply a liquid to a hot surface resulting in vapors that can make harmful contact with the skin, causing discomfort and leaving an undesirable residue, depending on the substance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The various embodiments are illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a cotton swab assembled with a cotton swab guard according to an example embodiment;

FIG. 2 illustrates a front view of a cotton swab assembled with a cotton swab guard according to an example embodiment;

FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of a cotton swab assembled with a cotton swab guard according to an example embodiment;

FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of a conventional cotton swab; and

FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of a cotton swab guard according to an example embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the various embodiments. It will be evident, however, to one of ordinary skill in the art that the various embodiments may be practiced without these specific details.

In various example embodiments described herein, a cotton swab guard is disclosed. Example embodiments are directed to a solution to shield a user from the uncomfortable and messy discharges when a cotton swab is used to apply a liquid to a hot surface resulting in the emission of vapors or sputtered material. Two particular applications of cotton swabs can result in these unwanted discharges: 1) applying rosin flux during small electronics soldering, and 2) vaporizing concentrated botanical extracts using a variety of hot surfaces. Other applications can also benefit from the cotton swab guard as disclosed herein.

In regard to the application of cotton swabs for vaporizing concentrated botanical extracts on hot surfaces, using slightly more of the material than is needed per inhalation is generally practiced as it allows for the most flavorful experience. These hot surfaces must be cleaned after each application, especially those that leave more waste, to avoid caked oxidized material building up on the surface. This waste build-up diminishes the flavor of the next application and adds to an unsightly appearance. Additionally, the waste build-up on the hot surface changes the ability of the surface to vaporize at maximum efficiency, because of the comparatively absorbent nature of the molecules of oxidized materials relative to a clean quartz, ceramic, or titanium surface. The current mode of cleaning these hot surfaces is to use cotton swabs with isopropyl alcohol, and then water. Often the combination of the residual extracts and the water or alcohol creates a turbulent rise of very hot and sticky vapors hitting the finger tips, leaving some of the same sticky, smelly residue on the fingers and hands of the user. The cotton swab guard as disclosed in more detail below and in the diagrams herewith can prevent or mitigate the effects of these discharges when a cotton swab is used to apply a liquid to a hot surface or clean a hot surface.

Referring now to the diagrams provided herewith, FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a cotton swab 200 assembled with a cotton swab guard 100 according to an example embodiment. In the embodiment shown, a conventional cotton swab 200 comprises a shaft or rod 210 with small wad(s) of cotton 220 (or similar material) wrapped around one or both end(s) of the shaft 210. The shaft 210 is typically fabricated from wood, rolled paper or plastic with a cylindrical shape have a well-known diameter. In a particular embodiment, the shaft 210 is a durable fiber material configured in a cylindrical shaft that is 3″ long and 5/64″ in diameter with spun cotton 220 on each end that extends for ½″ along the shaft and ¼″ in diameter. This conventional cotton swab 200 can be fitted or assembled with a cotton swab guard 100 as shown in FIG. 1.

In an example embodiment, the cotton swab guard 100 can be configured as a circular disc concentric with the shaft 210 of the cotton swab 200 and on a plane perpendicular to the longer axis of the shaft 210 represented by a line extending through the shaft 210 and connecting both cotton ends 220. In alternative embodiments, the cotton swab guard 100 can be configured in any of a variety of polygonal surface shapes concentric with the shaft 210. In an example embodiment, the cotton swab guard 100 can be fabricated from 110 lb. card stock, 30 mil rigid plastic, or other rigid materials. To facilitate insertion of the cotton swab guard 100 onto the shaft 210 of the cotton swab 200, the cotton swab guard 100 is configured with a slit 110 cut from a side of the disc to the center of the disc. The cotton swab guard 100 is also configured with a hole in its center, wherein the diameter of the hole conforms to the diameter of the shaft 210. In a particular embodiment, the hole in the center of the cotton swab guard 100 has an inside diameter matching the outside diameter of the cotton swab shaft 210 at 5/64 inches. The cotton swab guard 100 is configured to fit tightly onto the shaft 210, while allowing the cotton swab guard 100 to be moved and adjusted along the longer axis of the shaft 210 for flexibility in the distance from site of application. Thus, the various example embodiments described herein disclose a cotton swab guard 100 allowing the effective use of cotton swabs 200 for applying vapor-prone fluids to hot surfaces, while guarding against hot vapor or liquid contact with the skin.

While the embodiments shown include a guard with a slit 110 cut from the side of the disk, this disclosure should be read to exclude additional embodiments wherein the guard disc is integrally manufactured into the shaft and not added later. For example, and without limitation, the shaft of the swab may be manufactured to extend out forming a bulge in the shaft which would effectuate a guard operation to protect the fingers of a user. In certain embodiments, multiple guards could be manufactured into the shaft.

In addition, the guard material need not be limited to circular discs, but may include increased thicknesses, such that the bulge disclosed above may be extend down a portion of the shaft larger than a disc.

An alternative embodiment may employ a guard with a polygonal surface and a central hole surrounded by several slits radiating out from the central hole, but not all the way to the edge. This provides a means to dispose the guard over the cotton swab and on to the shaft.

FIG. 2 illustrates a front view of a cotton swab 200 assembled with a cotton swab guard 100 according to an example embodiment. FIG. 2 also illustrates the slit 110 cut from a side of the disc to the center of the disc to facilitate insertion of the cotton swab guard 100 onto the shaft 210 of the cotton swab 200.

FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of a cotton swab 200 assembled with a cotton swab guard 100 according to an example embodiment.

FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of a conventional cotton swab 200.

FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of a cotton swab guard 100 according to an example embodiment.

The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to allow the reader to quickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the foregoing Detailed Description, it can be seen that various features are grouped together in a single embodiment for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A cleaning device including: a shaft, said shaft including a first end, a second end and a central portion; a swab of cotton disposed on the first end of the shaft; a polygonal surface configured with a hole in the center of the polygonal surface, the diameter of the hole conforming to the diameter of the shaft, the polygonal surface including a slit cut from a side of the polygonal surface to the center of the polygonal surface, wherein the polygonal surface is disposed with the hole disposed about the central portion of the shaft.
 2. The device of claim 1 wherein the polygonal surface is fabricated from a material of a type from the group consisting of: card stock, rigid plastic, and a rigid material.
 3. The device of claim 1 wherein the diameter of the hole in the center of the polygonal surface is approximately 5/64 inches.
 4. The device of claim 1 wherein the polygonal surface is a shape from the group consisting of: a circle, a square, a pentagon, a hexagon, and a polygon.
 5. A swab device including: a shaft, said shaft including a first end, a second end and a central portion; a swab of cotton disposed about the first end of the shaft; wherein a portion of the central portion includes an integrally formed raised portion extending from the shaft.
 6. The swab device of claim 5 wherein the integrally formed raised portion extends out from the shaft to a distance greater than the diameter of the swab of cotton. 